The PVA confusion

The term "PVA" is often still used to describe a water-based paint. This goes back to the post second world-war era when it was the first binder type to be used in the production of water-based coatings. It had many shortcomings as a binder and was soon super-ceded by Pure Acrylics and Modified Acrylic binders, now still used as the main binders used in water-based coatings. Ask your paint manufacturer or stockist for the binder type used in the product you are about to purchase, especially if you see the term "PVA" used in the product name. A simple rule of thumb is that Modified Acrylic binders are used to produce matt or textured finish paints while Pure Acrylic binders are used to produce sheen and roof paints.